U.S. patent application number 16/808945 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-15 for electrical device.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Takashi ASANO, Shinichi MIURA, Kenjiro SHIBA, Yuichi SHIMO.
Application Number | 20200328554 16/808945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004702862 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-15 |
![](/patent/app/20200328554/US20200328554A1-20201015-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200328554/US20200328554A1-20201015-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200328554/US20200328554A1-20201015-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200328554/US20200328554A1-20201015-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200328554/US20200328554A1-20201015-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200328554/US20200328554A1-20201015-D00005.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20200328554 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ASANO; Takashi ; et
al. |
October 15, 2020 |
ELECTRICAL DEVICE
Abstract
An electrical device may be provided with: a housing having a
side surface; and a connector opening provided on the side surface
of the housing and to which a connector is connected. The side
surface includes a groove surrounding the connector opening, the
connector includes a ring-shaped rib fitted into the groove, the
connector has an upper surface and a lower surface that are
inclined as viewed along a normal direction of the side surface,
and a lower end of the lower surface includes a step protruding
downward, the side surface includes a drain hole at a position
below the step, and the drain hole communicates inside of the
groove and underside of the groove.
Inventors: |
ASANO; Takashi;
(Okazaki-shi, JP) ; SHIMO; Yuichi; (Toyota-shi,
JP) ; SHIBA; Kenjiro; (Takahama-shi, JP) ;
MIURA; Shinichi; (Toyota-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Toyota-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000004702862 |
Appl. No.: |
16/808945 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/061 20130101;
H05K 5/069 20130101; H05K 5/0008 20130101; H01R 13/5202 20130101;
H01R 2201/26 20130101; B60R 16/03 20130101; H01R 13/74
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/52 20060101
H01R013/52; H01R 13/74 20060101 H01R013/74; H05K 5/06 20060101
H05K005/06; H05K 5/00 20060101 H05K005/00; B60R 16/03 20060101
B60R016/03 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 15, 2019 |
JP |
2019-077321 |
Claims
1. An electrical device comprising: a housing having a side
surface; a connector opening provided on the side surface of the
housing and to which a connector is connected, wherein the side
surface includes a groove surrounding the connector opening, the
connector includes a ring-shaped rib fitted into the groove, the
connector has an upper surface and a lower surface that are
inclined as viewed along a normal direction of the side surface,
and a lower end of the lower surface includes a step protruding
downward, the side surface includes a drain hole at a position
below the step, and the drain hole communicates inside of the
groove and underside of the groove.
2. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein a
ring-shaped protrusion is provided between the groove and the
connector opening, and a sealer is provided between the ring-shaped
protrusion and the connector.
3. The electrical device according to claim 2, wherein a tip
surface of the ring-shaped protrusion is in contact with the
connector inside the ring-shaped rib.
4. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the housing
includes an upper housing and a lower housing, the connector
opening is provided on the lower housing, the lower housing
includes a flange protruding from the side surface at a position
above the connector opening, and the upper hosing is fixed to the
flange by two bolts.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2019-77321 filed on Apr. 15, 2019, the contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present
application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The teachings disclosed herein relate to an electrical
device. Especially, the teaching disclosed herein relates to an
improvement of drainage around a connector in the electrical device
used in a situation where the device is splashed with water.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An electrical device to a side surface of which a connector
is connected is known. For example, Japanese Patent Application
Publication Nos. 2017-079547, 2017-222203, and 2018-170894 each
describes such an electrical device. If an electrical device is
used in a situation where the device may be splashed with water,
there is a risk that adhesion of water to its connector may develop
corrosion of a contact part between the connector opening and the
connector. The electrical device in Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2017-079547 provides an eave above a connector
opening arranged on a side surface of the electrical device in
order to prevent the contact part between the connector opening and
the connector from being splashed with water. The present
description terms an opening arranged on a housing of an electrical
device and to which a connector is connected "a connector
opening."
SUMMARY
[0004] Even provision of an eave may not completely prevent a
connector from being splashed with water. The present description
provides an electrical device with improved drainage around a
connector.
[0005] An electrical device may comprise: a housing having a side
surface; and a connector opening provided on the side surface of
the housing and to which the connector is connected. The side
surface includes a groove surrounding the connector opening. The
connector includes a ring-shaped rib fitted into the groove. The
connector has an upper surface and a lower surface that are
inclined as viewed along a normal direction of the side surface. A
lower end of the lower surface includes a step protruding downward.
The side surface includes a drain hole at a position below the
step. The drain hole communicates inside of the groove and
underside of the groove.
[0006] Firstly, in the electrical device disclosed herein, the
housing includes the groove surrounding the connector opening, and
the connector includes the rib fitted into the groove. By the rib
fitting into the groove, it becomes difficult for water to enter
from between the connector opening and the connector. Secondly, the
upper surface and the lower surface of the connector are inclined
and the water adhering to the upper surface flows along the
inclined surface, and drops off from the connector. The lower end
of the connector inclined lower surface includes the step
protruding downward, and the water flowing along the lower surface
drops off from the step. The drain hole is provided below the step,
and the water is drained out of the groove through the drain hole.
Given the above, the structure as above improves drainage around
the connector.
[0007] Details and further developments of the teachings disclosed
herein will be described in "DETAILED DESCRIPTION."
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front compartment in which
an electrical device (power converter) according to an embodiment
is installed.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the power converter fixed on a
transaxle.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view that enlarges a section III of
FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a connector and its
surroundings.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the connector and its
surroundings.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a view seeing the connector and its surroundings
from diagonally below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiment
[0014] An electrical device according to an embodiment will be
described with reference to drawings. The electrical device
according to the embodiment is a power converter 2 mounted in a
hybrid vehicle 20. The power converter 2 is a device configured to
convert battery power to driving power for two traction motors. The
power converter 2 is installed in a front compartment 21 of the
hybrid vehicle 20. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front
compartment 21 of the hybrid vehicle 20. The power converter 2 is
fixed on a transaxle 30 by a front bracket 34 and a rear bracket
35. A housing of the transaxle 30 houses traction motors 31, 32
therein. A coordinate system of FIG. 1 shows a front side, rear
side, right side, left side, upper side, and lower side of the
vehicle. The same coordinate system will be used throughout all
drawings.
[0015] The transaxle 30 is connected to an engine 40. The transaxle
30 and the engine 40 are supported by a pair of side members 22
that extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. FIG. 1 does
not show one of the side members, being hidden by the engine.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the power converter 2 fixed on the
transaxle 30. A housing 10 of the power converter 2 includes a
lower housing 100 and an upper housing 300. The lower housing 100
and the upper housing 300 are joined by bolts 351.
[0017] As mentioned above, the housing 10 of the power converter 2
is fixed on the transaxle 30 by the front bracket 34 and the rear
bracket 35. An upper surface 30a of the transaxle 30 is inclined
downwardly to the front side, and the housing 10 is supported in
its posture of being inclined downwardly to the front side. The
front bracket 34 and the rear bracket 35 are connected to the lower
housing 100.
[0018] Connectors 200 and 400 are connected to a side surface of
the lower housing 100. Power cables 401 configured to supply power
to the traction motors 31, 32 are connected to the connector 400.
Power cables and signal lines are connected to the connector 200.
The power cables connected to the connector 200 transmit
low-voltage power. FIG. 2 omits illustration of the signal lines
and the power cables that are connected to the connector 200.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view that enlarges a section III in
FIG. 2. FIG. 3 depicts a state where the connector 200 has been
removed from the lower housing 100. A body 201 of the connector 200
is constituted of plastic. The body 201 includes a signal coupler
211 to which the signal lines are connected and a power coupler 212
to which the power cables are connected, however, the cables
connected to those couplers are omitted. Although terminals
connected to the signal coupler 211 and terminals connected to the
power coupler 212 are disposed inside a connector opening 102,
illustration of those terminals is also omitted.
[0020] A side surface 101 of the lower housing 100 comprises the
connector opening 102. The connector 200 is connected to the
connector opening 102. The side surface 101 includes a groove 103
that surrounds the connector opening 102.
[0021] A ring-shaped protrusion 104 is provided between the groove
103 and the connector opening 102. Further, a rib 120 is provided
between the groove 103 and underside of the lower housing 100. In
other words, the groove 103 and the connector opening 102 are
separated from each other by the ring-shaped protrusion 104. The
groove 103 and the underside of the lower housing 100 are separated
by the rib 120. The rib 120 includes a drain hole 121 that
communicates inside of the groove 103 and underside of the groove
103. The drain hole 121 will be described below.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of the connector
200 and its surrounding configurations. As shown in FIG. 4, the
body 201 of the connector 200 includes a ring-shaped rib 202 that
fits into the groove 103. As aforementioned, a part interposed
between the connector opening 102 and the groove 103 of the lower
housing 100 forms the ring-shaped protrusion 104. As shown in FIG.
4, a tip surface 104a of the protrusion 104 is in contact with the
body 201 of the connector 200 inside the rib 202. This structure
makes it difficult for water to enter from the connector opening
102 to the inside of the housing 10.
[0023] Further, a ring-shaped sealer 240 is interposed between the
protrusion 104 and the body 201. The sealer 240 prevents entry of
water from between the connector opening 102 and the connector 200
to the inside of the housing 10. FIG. 4 hatches the sealer 240 in
gray to aid understanding.
[0024] Referring back to FIG. 3, the description continues. Two
projections 205a, 205b project from the rib 202 of the connector
200 toward the housing 10 (lower housing 100). The groove 103 of
the housing 10 (lower housing 100) includes a depression 105a at a
position facing the projection 205a, and includes a depression 105b
at a position facing the projection 205b. When the connector 200 is
coupled to the housing 10 (lower housing 100), the projection 205a
fits into the depression 105a, and the projection 205b fits into
the depression 105b. The projections 205a, 205b and the depressions
105a, 105b accurately define a position of the connector 200
relative to the connector opening 102. Provision of the projections
205a, 205b on a connector 200 side facilitates a work of attaching
the connector 200 to the housing 10 (lower housing 100).
[0025] As aforementioned, the housing 10 includes the lower housing
100 and the upper housing 300, and these are joined by the plural
bolts 351. As shown in FIG. 3, a flange 352 projecting laterally is
provided at a lower end of the upper housing 300, and a flange 152
projecting laterally is provided at an upper end of the lower
housing 100. Above the connector 200, a projection 152a projects
laterally from the flange 152 and a projection 352a projects
laterally from the flange 352. The projection 152a is provided with
two bolt holes 153 and the projection 352a is provided with two
bolt holes 353. The flange 152 (projection 152a) and the flange 352
(projection 352a) are joined to each other by the two bolts 351.
Although the bolts 351 are inserted into the flange 152 (projection
152a) and the flange 352 (projection 352a) from below and nuts are
attached from above, illustration of the nuts is omitted.
[0026] The flanges 152, 352 (projections 152a, 352a) that project
from the housing 10 above the connector 200 also contribute to
prevention of water adhesion to the connector 200.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a view seeing the connector 200 along a normal
direction of the side surface 101 of the lower housing 100. As well
shown in FIG. 5, the connector 200 has an elliptical shape, and is
mounted to the housing 10 in an orientation by which the elliptical
shape is angled.
[0028] The upper surface 221 of the connector 200 is inclined such
that its vehicle front side is lowered and its vehicle rear side is
elevated. Similarly, the lower surface 222 of the connector 200 is
inclined such that its vehicle front side is lowered and its
vehicle rear side is elevated. Since the upper surface 221 is
angled, water adhering to the upper surface 221 flows toward the
lower side and drops off from the connector 200. Broken line arrows
A in FIG. 5 show flow of water that runs along the upper surface
221 and drips off therefrom.
[0029] A step 223 that protrudes downward is provided at a lower
end of the inclined lower surface 222. FIG. 6 shows a view seeing
the connector 200 obliquely from below. FIG. 6 provides a good view
of the step 223. As aforementioned, the lower housing 100 is
provided with the rib 120, and the rib 120 is disposed below the
connector 200. A space between the rib 120 and the connector 200
corresponds to the groove 103. As aforementioned, the rib 120 is
provided with the drain hole 121. The drain hole 121 communicates
the inside of the groove 103 and the underside of the groove 103.
The drain hole 121 is disposed below the step 223 of the connector
200. The water running downward along the lower surface 222 of the
connector 200 impinges on the step 223, and drops off therefrom.
The drain hole 121 is disposed below the step 223, and the water
that dropped off from the step 223 flows through the drain hole 121
and is drained out of the groove 103. Broken arrow lines B of FIG.
5 show flow of the water that runs along the lower surface 222 and
drops off from the step 223.
[0030] As aforementioned, the water that adheres to the connector
200 drops off rapidly from the connector 200 by the inclined upper
surface 221 and inclined lower surface 222 of the connector 200.
The water running along the lower surface 222 drops off from the
step 223. The water passes through the drain hole 121 below the
step 223 and is drained out of the groove 103. Due to this, the
water is prevented from remaining in the groove 103.
[0031] The power converter 2 has good water drainage around the
connector 200. Some of structural features that improve the
drainage around the connector 200 will be listed below.
[0032] The housing 10 includes the ring-shaped groove 103
surrounding the connector 200. The body 201 of the connector 200
includes the ring-shaped rib 202 that fits into the groove 103. The
protrusion 104 is provided between the connector opening 102 and
the groove 103, and its tip surface 104a of the protrusion 104 is
in contact with the connector 200 inside the rib 202. Such
structure makes it difficult for the water to enter from between
the connector opening 102 and the connector 200 to the inside of
the housing 10.
[0033] The sealer 240 is interposed between the connector opening
102 and the protrusion 104. The sealer 240 also prevents the water
from entering from between the connector opening 102 and the
connector 200.
[0034] The connector 200 has the elliptical shape as seen along the
normal direction of the housing side surface (side surface 101) on
which the connector 200 is mounted. The connector 200 is mounted on
the housing 10 (connector opening 102) such that the elliptical is
angled. As seen along the normal direction, the upper surface 221
and lower surface 222 of the connector 200 are angled. Due to this,
the water adhering to the upper surface 221 or the lower surface
222 flows down along the angled surfaces.
[0035] The step 223 that projects downward is provided at the lower
end of the inclined lower surface 222. The drain hole 121 is
provided below the step 223. The drain hole 121 is provided in the
rib 120 that separates the groove 103 and the underside of the
housing. The water running along the lower surface 222 impinges on
the step 223 and drops off therefrom. The water droplets that have
dropped off from the step 223 are drained to the underside of the
housing 10 through the drain hole 121.
[0036] The lower housing 100 includes the flange 152, and the
projection 152a projects laterally from the flange 152 above the
connector 200. The two bolts 351 are fixed to the projection 152a.
The two bolts 351 connect the upper housing 300 and the lower
housing 100. The flange 152 (projection 152a) projects outward like
an eave above the connector 200. The flange 152 (projection 152a)
contributes to the prevention of the water from adhering to the
connector 200.
[0037] The two protrusions 205a, 205b extend from the rib 202 of
the connector 200 toward the housing 10. The depression 105a is
provided on a bottom of the groove 103 of the housing 10 so as to
face the projection 205a, and the depression 105b is provided
thereon so as to face the projection 205b. Upon mounting the
connector 200 to the housing 10, the projections 205a, 205b fit
into the depressions 105a, 105b. The projections 205a, 205b and the
depressions 105a, 105b facilitate the work of mounting the
connector 200.
[0038] Upon mounting the connector 200, the projections 205a, 205b
fit into the depressions 105a, 105b. By the projections 205a, 205b
fitting into the depressions 105a, 105b, the orientation of the
connector 200 relative to the connector opening 102 can be
precisely positioned. By further pressing the connector 200 in that
state, the connector 200 can be mounted to the connector opening
102 easily and accurately. Accordingly, the work of mounting the
connector 200 can be facilitated.
[0039] Since the connector 200 has the body 201 which has the
elliptical shape, mounting the connector 200 to the connector
opening 102 is difficult unless the posture of the body 201 is
accurately positioned upon when the connector 200 is being mounted
to the connector opening 102. The projections 205a, 205b and
depressions 105a, 105b define the posture of the body 201 of the
connector 200 accurately. The projections 205a, 205b and
depressions 105a, 105b are especially effective for a connector
that has a shape other than a square.
[0040] Some of points to be noted with regard to the teachings
disclosed herein will be listed. The flange 152 (projection 152a)
corresponds to an example of an eave above the connector 200. The
power converter 2 is an example, and the teachings disclosed herein
are not limited to the power converter 2, but are applicable to
other types of electrical devices. The teachings disclosed herein
are suitable for electrical devices that are used in a situation
where the device may be splashed with water.
[0041] While specific examples of the present disclosure have been
described above in detail, these examples are merely illustrative
and place no limitation on the scope of the patent claims. The
technology described in the patent claims also encompasses various
changes and modifications to the specific examples described above.
The technical elements explained in the present description or
drawings provide technical utility either independently or through
various combinations. The present disclosure is not limited to the
combinations described at the time the claims are filed. Further,
the purpose of the examples illustrated by the present description
or drawings is to satisfy multiple objectives simultaneously, and
satisfying any one of those objectives gives technical utility to
the present disclosure.
* * * * *